Chute structure for case moving mechanism



Mam]! 2, 1965 A. J. GAJDOSTIK ETAL 3,

CHUTE S'I'RUCfl-URE FOR CASE MOVING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMarch 16. 1961 INVENTO ANTHONY J. GAJDOS'fi K RICHARD N. KLAESER BYWARREN J. KUESTER MA?! ATTORNEY March 1965 A. .1. GAJDOSTIK ETAL 3, ,5

CHUTE STRUCTURE FOR CASE MOVING MECHANISM Filed March 16. 1961 5Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ANTHONY J. GAJDOSTIK RICHARD N. KLAESER WARRENJ. KUESTER 12 ATTORNEY March 1965 A. J. GAJDOSTIK ETAL 3,171,550

CHUTE STRUCTURE FOR CASE MOVING MECHANISM Filed March 16. 1961 5Sheets-Sheet 3 I p 9 I62 I? 9L |6| 3332 r, 32 I6] '1 36 47 4935 4 i ?i53 37 I 36 I l I so 46 r 45 5| 52 35 4O 39 34 I8 44 I9 56 30 l3 l9 J K IH LL\\\\\\\ 4| 1 INVENTORS ANTHONY J. GAJDOSTIK RICHARD N. KLAESER BYWARREN a. KUESTER max ATTORNEY March 1965 A. J. GAJDOSTIK ETAL 3, 7

CHUTE STRUCTURE FOR CASE MOVING MECHANISM Filed March 16. 1961 5Sheets-Sheet 4 I35 RICHARD N.KLAESER I [2 BY WARREN J. KUESTER ATTORNEYMarch 2, 1965 A. J. GAJDOSTIK ETAL 3,171,550

CHUTE STRUCTURE FOR CASE MOVING MECHANISM Filed March 16. 1961 5Sheets-Sheet 5 409 I09 7 l2 l2 F|G.l4

INVENTORF ANTHONYJGAIDOSTIK l I05 BY QBRICHARD N. KLAESER I07 WARRHV J.KUESTER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,171,550 CHUTE STRUCTURE FOR CASEMOVING MECHANISM Anthony J. Gajdostik and Richard N. Klaeser, Kiel, and

Warren J. Kuester, Sheboygan, Wis., assignors to H. G.

Weber and Company, Inc., Kiel, Wis.

Filed Mar. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 96,265 3 Claims. (Cl. 2146) This inventionrelates to machinery for case packing commercial products and moreparticularly to a new and improved chute and discharge conveyorstructure for automatic case erecting and packing mechanisms.

After automatic case erecting and packing operations the cases arefirmly gripped while the case flap adhesives set. In order to providethis control over the packed cases while they are in the packingstructure some form of package gripping and temporary storage mechanismmust be used.

In accordance with the invention claimed a new and improved caseerecting and packing machine is provided utilizing a new and improvedelevator mechanism. This new elevator mechanism comprises a verticallyarranged compression chute which may be provided with at least onepivotally mounted side wall. One or more movable finger structures arearranged to protrude into the chute for controlling the cases anddeflect or move sufliciently upon movement of the cases against them inone direction to cause the case to pass the finger structure in thechute. Means are provided for sequentially moving the cases into thechute beyond the finger structure where upon the cases are supported bythe finger structure upon retraction of the case moving means. Each ofthe cases actuated by the moving means moves the preceding case in thechutea predetermined distance. The side wall is displaceable to expandthe width of the chute upon movement of the cases therethrough and meansare provided for adjusting the width of the chute, if desired, toaccommodate cases of different sizes.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide a new andimproved automatic case erecting and packing machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedtemporary storage and case flap control mechanism for automatic caseerecting and packing machines.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedelevator mechanism for case packing machines which is jam proof.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new andimproved mechanism in which the closed flaps of the packed case arefirmly grasped during movement in a compression elevator chute which isjam proof.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new andimproved elevator mechanism for a case packing machine in which thesides of a chute are displaceable against the action of gravity toeliminate jamming.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new andimproved elevator mechanism which is adjustable to handle cases ofdifferent sizes.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an elevatoremploying new and improved finger mechanisms which permit movement ofthe cases in one direction and restrict their movement in anotherdirection.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be come apparentfrom the following description when read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the erection and packing machine showingthe product loading conveyor and embodying the various features of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the unseen side of the structure shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial view of the illustrations shown in FIG. 2showing the suction device in dotted lines in two of its extremepositions;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the structure shown in FIG. 3 takenalong the line 4-4;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial view of the suction cup actuating meansshown in FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the structure shown in FIG. 3 takenalong the line 6-6 and showing the trailing flap closing mechanism;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view partially in section of the trailing flap andbottom flap closing mechanism;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial view of the case leading flap closingmechanism and the gluing nozzles;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial view of the elevator chute, deliveryconveyor and control mechanism therefor shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 10 is a partial left end view of the elevator chute and controlmechanism shown in FIG. 9 illustrating in more detail the casesupporting resilient finger structure and the displaceable chute walls;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged partial view of the mounting arrangement of oneof the displaceable chute walls;

FIG. 12 is a partial right end view of the structure shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged partial view of the case elevating and resilientfinger structures showing the fingers in a plurality of case engagingpositions;

FIG. 14 is a top view of the resilient finger and elevator platformstructures; and

FIG. 15 is a side view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 14.

Referring more particularly to the drawings by characters of reference,FIGS. '1, 2, and 3 illustrate the carton or case erection and packingmachine 11 comprising a frame 12 defining a predetermined path over aworking surface 13 for the cases from the case hopper 14 through thecase erection area 15, case packing area 16 and case discharge area 17.Collapsed cartons or cases 18 are stacked in hopper 14 and are pickedotf of the bottom of the stack one at a time by case pick-off fingers 19actuated in a reciprocating manner by a shuttle mechanism 20.

The shuttle mechanism is illustrated as a fluid motor 22 actuable in onedirection by fluid under pressure and which may be returned by a springbiasing means to its original position. The fluid under pressure will beassumed herein to be compressed air supplied from a suitable compressor(not shown) through a pipe 23. Although the shuttle mechanism is hereinshown as a fluid motor an electric motor with suitable reversing meansor hand operated linkage may also be used. Fluid motor 22 comprises acylinder 24, piston 25 and piston rod 26. An orifice in cylinder 24 isconnected to pipe 23. Suitable valve means (not shown) connects pipe 23alternately to the source of fluid under pressure and atmosphere forrapid reversal action.

The fluid motor is provided to reciprocate a shuttle table 27 along atrack 28. Shuttle table 27 utilizes a pair of shuttle fingers 19 forpushing the bottom collapsed case off of the stack of cases toward thecase erection area 15.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the shuttle fingers .19 are pivotally mountedon one each end of the shuttle table 27 and are biased oounterclockwiscso as to engage the lowermost collapsed case in hopper 14 duringmovement of the shuttle table 27 as it moves left to right as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. When the shuttle table reciprocates back to its leftextreme position shown in FIG. 2 it moves back under the case hopper 14,biasing fingers 19 clockwise by rubbing on the lowermost case in hopper14.

As the shuttle table moves from left to right as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3with fingers 19 pushing the collapsed case 18 along surface 13 into thecase erection area 15, a pair of pivotally mounted suction cups 30attach themselves to the back panelo fthe collapsed case. The suctioncups 30 are so mounted that they rotate while hanging on to thebackpanel of the box while the bottom panel of the carton is moving alongits predetermined path on surface 13. The suction cups are each attachedto a hollow stem 31 connected at its free end through a coupling 32 toa'vacuurn line 33. Stems 31 are arranged to extend loosely throughashaft 34 which is pivotally mounted in bearings 35 of bracket arms '36.Bracket arms 36 are fixedly attached to frame -12. A spring 37 ismounted on each of stem-s 31 between a collar 38 mounted on each of thestems '31 and shaft 34 so that the suction cups may rotate at variableradii. A collar 39 mounted on stems- 31 on the side of stems 31 adjacentsuction cups 30 restrict the travel of cups. 30 in the direction towardshaft 34. A torsion spring 40' mounted on shaft 34 biases the suctioncups to the dotted left hand position shown in FIG. 3 after shaft 34 andsuction cups 30 have-been rotatedcounterclockwise to the right handdotted position shown in FIG. 3.

From the left hand dotted position shown in FIG; 3 the suction cups aredriven counterclockwise to the ver- .tical full line positionshown by alever and cam mechanism getting its action from the shuttle mechanism20. From the vertical full line position 'the suction cups disengagefrom the lever and cam mechanism and cling to and are rotatedcounterclockwise to their dotted horizontal position shown in FIG. 3 bythe action of the movement of the collapsed cases. The lever and cammechanism comprises a lever arm 40 pivotally mounted at one end on ashaft 41, fixedly attached to frame 12. A cam follower 42 is mounted onshaft 41 and rotates therewith upon rotation of lever arm 40. Camfollower 42 engages with a cam surface 43 mounted on the shuttle table27. Thefree end of lever arm 40 is .pivotally'connected to one end of aconnecting rod 44. Rod 44 is pivotally connected to a shaft 45 which isfixedly secured to a crank arm 46. Crank arm 46 is connected to a hollowsleeve 47 which is rotatably mountedon a shaft 7 48 fixedly secured toframe 12. Sleeve 47 is rotatable with crank arm 46. At the free end ofsleeve "47 is adjustably mounted 'a hub 49 which has a rod 50 protrudingtherefrom. Sleeve 47, hub, 49 and rod 50 when rotated clockwise asshownin FIG. 4 engage a rod 51 of a slide 52.. Slide 52 is arranged in aslotted housing 53 as shown'in FIG. 10. Housing 53 is fixedly mounted onthe end of shaft 34 causing shaft 34 to rotate counterclockwise with ita predetermined distance.

Upon further counterclockwise movement of stem 31 and suction cups underthe motive force of the moving collapsed cases 18, stems 31 and cups30'move away from any driving force or retarding drag of its originalmotivating force, i.e., the lever arm 40 and cam arrangement 43. Thereason that the suction cups are arranged to run away from theiroriginal starting mechanism is to reduce the mass of, linkage associatedwith the suction cups since the case'alone which is now opening must dothe balance of the job of pivoting'the suction cups and their respectivestems, springs and common 13 of the packing machine the suotion cups 30engage and adhere to the trailing back panel 56 of the collapsed cartonor case 18. Further, during this forward movement of the collapsed casethe edges of the lower end closure flaps 57 pass under the guidingmember 58, one mounted at each side of the working surface 13, so thatthe suction cups can rotate back panel v56 of the case to the verticalposition shown. The case at this point in its travelthrough the packingmachineis erected.

In order to guide the lower end closure flaps 57 of case 18 into the.gu'idingmembers-58, flap separators come into play while the collapsedcase is traveling from the hopper 14 to the case erection area 15. Twoflap separators 59 are provided mountedon a common shaft 60 one at eachend thereof so thatthey can engage. the end flaps of the case's. Shaft60 is rotated by a cam arm ,61. which rides over a cam-surface v62'onthe shuttle mechanism20. V Flap separators 59 areso arranged that theyride ontop of the flaps only while the case is being pushed into the.case opening position; The timing. of the'flap separating mechanism issuch that flap separators 59 ride on top of thefirst flap o'n each endof the passing case, which is the upper closure flaps 63, 63'. As theflap separators -59 ride on top of the upperclosure flaps 63, 63' theyare camnied so that they press down onto and separate the endclosureflaps. In so doing they catch the trailing flaps 64, 64' to assist inopening the caseas well as to depress the underneath or bottom closureflaps 57, 57' so that they get "caught beneath the flap hold downguiding members 58 (note FIG. 7).

At this :point the case is erected and all of the closure flaps at bothends of the case are open. The case is then in the case packing area 16ready to be loaded with containers .66 filled with any suitable produce,such as, for

7 cases 18. A loading rarnfor fluid motor 72 is provided pivot shafttothe horizontal dotted position shown in FIG. .3.

When the suction cups have set up the case they still hang on to thecase until the case has been loaded with the product and the trailingend closure flaps of the case have been closed by a flap closing bar 55.After this has been accomplished the vacuum is reduced in the suctioncups and the suction cups 30 and stems 31 under the influence of thetorsion spring 40' on shaft 34 swings clockwise (as shown inFIG. 3) backinto their left dotted position to receive the next collapsed case.

During the forward movement of the collapsed case along itspredetermined path over the working surface for loading the containersinto the case comprising a cylinder 73, piston (not shown), piston rod"74, and ram 75.

If more than one tier of containers 66 are to be pushed into the erectedcases 18, the fluid motor 69 and, more particularly, piston rod 74elevates containers 66 into a position high enough to be caught andsuspended by a plurality of resilient finger clamps 76 mounted on frame1'2 above the next tier of containers 66 coming in from the infeedconveyor 67. Fluid motor 69 again goes into action to push up the bottomtier of containers against the top tier of containers to makeanaccumulated load of containers 66 to be rammed into the erected caseby the ram of fluid motor 72.

As the load of containers 66 is .movedinto the erected case 18, aloading cycle cam 77 (shown in FIG. 6) on a shuttle structure 78associated with ram 75 hits a roller 79 which operates the trailing flapclosing bar 55. Roller 79 is rotatably mounted onone end of a crankarm80 of a crank .81. Crank arm 82 of crank 81 is fixedly connected to thefree end of crank arm 80 and both arms are rotatably mounted at theircommon connection on a shaft 83 attached to frame 12.. The free end ofcrank arm 82 is connected through a rod 84 to a crank arm 85 which ispivotally mounted on a rotatable shaft 86. Shaft 86 has fixedly attachedthereto the trailing closure flap bar 55. As cam 77 hits roller 79, bar55 is rotated to close the trailing closure flap 6410f case 18 and bar55 is held closedby a latch 87 mounted on shaft 87'. Latch v87 isprovided to keep the load of containers from i being pushed rightthrough the case.

roller 89 operating a closing bar 89' for closing trailing flap 64 onthe loading end of the case. Roller 89 is mounted on one end of a crankarm, 90 which is fixedly mounted at its other end on a shaft 91. Shaft91 has fixedly attached thereto the closing bar 89. Closing bar 89 isheld in its closed position by a latch 92. Latches 87 and 92 for thetrailing flaps 64 and 64, respectively, are released by the erection ofa following case. The operation of the flap separators 59 releases latch92 which hits stop 93 provided on a connecting rod 94 fastened at oneend to latch 87, thereby releasing latch 87. Latch 92 is connected toshaft 60 through a connecting rod 95. At this point in the case closingsequence the trailing flaps 64, 64' are closed and the leading closureflaps 96, 96, the upper closure flaps 63, 63' and the bottom closureflaps 5'7, 57' of the case remain open.

The loaded case now travels forward along its predetermined path. Theflap closing bars 55 and 89' being quite long retain the trailing flaps64, 6d at each end of the case closed even though the case moves. As thecase moves forward under the actuating effects of the shuttle table 27,the leading closure flaps 96, 96' at each end of the case engage bars9'7 (one of which is shown in FIG. 8) and these bars close the flaps. Atthis point the case has its trailing flaps 64, 64 and its leading flaps96, 96' closed. The only closure flaps which are still open are theupper closure flaps 63, 63 and the lower flaps 5'7, 57. At this pointglue may be sprayed or spotted on the outside of the trailing and leadinclosure flaps 64, 64 and 96, 96, respectively. This is accomplished bymeans of glue spray guns 99 which may spray two or four spots of glue oneach end of the case. The spray guns are iocatexi above and below theflaps closing bars 55 and 89'. It is intended to be within the scope ofthis invention to utilize any other form of fastening means for the caseflaps. In some applications the case flaps may have some form ofadhesive surface which may be moistened or heated at this point in thepacking cycle to accomplish the sealing effect and this disclosure isintended to cover those applications.

The loaded case with the closed trailing and leading flaps with glue onthe outside thereof now advances toward the case discharge area 17. Asthe case advances to this position flap closing plows 101 and 102arranged at each end of the case plow the upper closure flaps 63, 63'and the lower closure flaps '7, 57' closed against the glued surfaces ofthe trailing and leading flaps 64, 64' and 96, 96. The case is nowcompletely closed and glued with the containers inside.

The loaded sealed cases may be removed from the packing machine in anydesirable manner. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 9 of the drawings theloaded cases are lifted by an elevator fluid operated motor 103 into achute 104. As the case is elevated upward a predetermined distance thebottom of the case is caught and supported by a plurality ofdisplaceable fingers such as rotatably mounted finger structures 105shown in FIGS. 13 through 15. Finger structures 105, as shown in FIG.14, each comprise a serrated arcuate member 106 pivotally mounted on ashaft 107 on frame 12 and each arranged to extend along and throughopposite sides of chute 104 into the interior thereof. The pivotallymounted ends of the serrated members 106 are each provided with an extension arm 108 which is biased by a suitable means such as a spring 109to rotate the free ends of members 106 inwardly of chute 104. At eachfree end of member 106 is arranged a bumper 110 for engaging with theside walls 111 and 112 of chute 104 to limit the inward movement ofmembers 106. If desired, members 106 may be fixedly mounted on the sidewalls of the chute, as shown in FIG. 13 and formed out of suitableresilient material so that they will flex sufliciently to cause case 18to pass thereby under the influence of motor 103 and return to theirinactive position Without the action of springs 109. Fingers 105 rotateor flex sufliciently to permit the case to be pushed beyond them andthen as the case is released by the piston rod 103' of the elevatorfluid motor 103 the case settles down on the fingers and are supportedthereby. As more loaded cases are lifted into the chute the bottom casepushes the upper cases until finally chute 104 is completely loaded.When a case reaches the top of chute 104 it contacts a limit switch (notshown) which opens a valve connected with the source of air underpressure which energizes fluid motor 113. Fluid motor 113 through itspiston rod 115 transfers the case across to the flight delivery conveyor116 and into position 117. The transferring across is timed with theflight conveyor.

I11 order to support cases 18 over as much of their bottom areas aspossible during their elevation by motor 103, a supporting plate 119 anda serrated bearing plate 120 are fastened to the end of a piston rod103' of motor 103. The serrations of bearing plate 120 are arranged tofit into the grooves of the serrated members 106 of the fingerstructures 105 so that the bearing plate may move through the fingerstructure 105, thereby elevating cases 18 to a point above the fingerstructure (as shown in FIG. 13). Cases 18 deflect finger structures 105upon passage thereby but the bearing plate 120 moves through the fingerstructures without substantially disturbing them. In this manner abearing plate may be used which is substantially of the same crosssectional area as the cross sectional area of the bottom of the cases.

FIGS. 9 through 13 illustrate details of the case chute 104 and deliveryconveyor 116. As noted from these figures one or more opposed side walls111 and 112 of chute 104 may be displaceably mounted so that they maygive if necessary upon passage of cases 18 through chute 104. Side walls111 and 112 are each loosely mounted on a pair of spacedly arrangedlever arms 124 and 125 which in turn are pivotally mounted on wallsupporting members 126 and 127. Side Wall-s 111 and 112 in any pivotalposition remain parallel to each other. In order to limit the downwardmovement of side walls 111 and 112 suitable adjusting screws 128 (shownin FIG. 11) may be used or any other peg or stop. Side walls 111 and 112act against gravity and if any case is out of alignment or if a snugcompression fit is desired in the chute one or both of the side walls111 and 112 may be displaced slightly upwardly and outwardly of the axisof chute 104 to enlarge the cross section of chute 104. This actioneliminates too snug a fit or binding of the cases in the chute. As notedfrom the drawings finger structures 105 are fixedly attached to sidewalls 111 and 112.

It is intended to be within the scope of this invention to utilize oneor both of the displaceable side walls 111 and 112. If only one wall isdisplaceable then the other wall will be eliminated. For example, ifwall 112 is elim nated then the supporting member 127 becomes the sidewall for engaging the side wall of case 18.

During the passage of cases through the chute 104 the closure flaps ofthe cases are kept closed by the pressure of the finger structures 105and the displaceable side walls 111 and 112. This action providesadditional time for setting up of the glue.

When the cases are transferred into position 117 on the flight deliveryconveyor 116 a timing switch (not shown) is triggered and the conveyor116 lowers the case a predetermined distance. The delivery conveyor 116comprises a plurality of pairs of spaced flight bars 130 which form aplurality of shelves or pockets on the conveyor each arranged to receiveand hold a case. As the conveyor sequentially stops in position 117 adifferent pair of flight bars 130 on the endless conveyor 116 are readyto receive a case in a manner known in the art. The flight bars 130 withthe loaded cases in position continuously lower the loaded cases untilthey arrive atposition 131 where the loaded sealed cases drop onto adischarge conveyor 131'. The actuation of the flight bars and thedelivery conveyor 116 may occur through a suitable elec- 7 tricallydriven chain drive means 160 shown, or in any other suitable manner wellknown in the art. 'The portion of the machine structure disclosedcomprising compression chute 104 and flight delivery conveyr or 116 maybe adjustably varied in size to handle cases mounted in bearings 139 onuprights 140 and 141 of frame 12. A pair of shafts 143 and 144 aremounted on and arranged to extend between uprights 137, 138

' and 140 and 141, respectively, of frame 12 in bearings 145 and 146.Shafts 143 and 144'are rotatably mounted and provided with lefthandvthreads 147 at one common end and right hand threads 148 at theirother common end. The wall supporting members 126 and 127 of chute 104have fixed-1y attached thereto nuts 150 and 151, respectively, which arethreadedly'mounted on shaft 143, and the supporting members 152 and 153of the flight delivery conveyor 116 have fixedly attached thereto nuts154 and 155, respectively, which are threadedly mounted on shaft 144.

Shaft 143 hasfixedly attached thereto at one end thereof a sprocket 156and crank 157; A chain drive connects sprocket 156 to a sprocket 1S9fixedly mounted on shaft 144, as shown in the drawings. By rotatingcrank 157 and shaft 143, sprocket 159 and shaft 144 rotate at a likespeed causing wall supporting members 126 and 127 and supporting members152 and 153 to be slidably moved toward or away from each other ,inaccordance with the direction'of rotation of crank 157thereby-increasing or decreasing the depth of thechute and flightdelivery conveyor a like amount. In this manner the chute and conveyorcan be varied in size to more closely fit a large range of case sizes.

Thus, a new and improved case erecting and packing machine is providedwhich sequentially picks off one col lapsed case at a time from a hopper14 and pushes it into the case erection area 15 where the case 18 isopened by means of suction cups '30 in combination with bottom closureflap guiding means 58, A support stop 161 (shown in FIG. 3) isadjustably arranged and clamped on a rod 162 for supporting the top ofthe case during an erection operation. Stop 161 may be moved to suitablyposition cases of different sizes. Upon erection of the case a fluidmotor 69 stacks the filled containers 66 in tiers and a fluid motor 72forces the filled containers into the erected case. Fluid motor 72 uponactuation of a shuttle moves a trailing flap closing means for closingthe end of the case oppo site the loading end. The trailing flap closingbar 55 is latch closed until the case is filled with containers.

Upon withdrawal of the loading ram 75 of fluid motor 72 the trailingflap closing bar 89' is actuated to close the trailing closure flap 64'.The closing bar latches 87 and 92 are then released by the flapseparators 59 as the loaded case moves forward along a predeterminedpath. The forward movement of the loaded case causes bars 97 to closethe leading closure flaps 96, 96. Glue is then applied to the closedtrailing and leading flaps. Further movement of the loaded case causesclosing plows 191 and 102 to close the upper and lower closure flaps,thus completely closingand sealing the case. The loaded case is thenmoved vertically through a chute.

As the cases are elevated into the chute under the influence of thepiston rod of fluid motor 103 they rotate finger structures 105outwardly of chute 104 and the serrated bearing plate 120 in passingthrough and by the finger structures 105 interleave with serratedmembers 106. In this manner cases of a cross sectional sizesubstantially equal to the cross sectional size of the chute may passthereby on bearing plate 120, After the case has been elevated above thefinger structures it is released by the withdrawal of piston rod 103"and bearing plate 120 causing the cases to settle back on the fingerstructures 105. As the next case is sequentially elevated in the samemanner it pushes the preceding case off of the finger structure anddownstream in the chute. This continues to occur until a case reachesthe top of the chute where the pushing element of motor 113 pushes itonto the flight delivery conveyor 116. Conveyor 116 moves in steps andfinally deposits the case onto the discharge conveyor 131. If cases of adifferent size are to be packed the compression chute 104 and the flightdelivery conveyor '116 can be changed in size to fit the new case size.

The new and improved automatic case erecting and packing machine isrelatively small in size and can erect, load and discharge at leasttwenty-five cases a minute. The cases formed of cardboard or any othersuitable material are completely controlled atall timesduring openingand positioning cycles thereby assuring squared set up and positivepositioning every time. As the case is being opened and positioned, thefilled c'ontainers to be packaged are automatically accumulated into apredetermined pattern and elevated to multi-tiers, if required. Thepacking machine has'a positive interlocking arrangement throughout allof its operations. The packing machine is a completely enclosed,self-contained system. It is arranged for simplicity and efficientoperations.

Although air under pressure has been used'to actuate the various fluidmotors, oil or any other suitable fluid under pressure may also be used.It is also intended to be within the scope of this disclosure to utilizeone or more electric motors in place of one or all of the fluid motorsdisclosed. 7

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has beenillustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that various changes and modifications may be made therein'withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of theappended claims,

What is claimed is:

1. A case moving mechanism comprising in combination a frame, said framedefininga pair of parallelly arranged chutes, one of said chutes beingarranged for receiving cases atone end thereof and discharging cases atthe other end into the other of said chutes, said one of said chutesbeing provided with displaceable side walls, a movable finger structurearranged to protrude into said one of said chutes for supporting thecases, said finger structure arranged'to defiect sufliciently uponmovement of the cases against it in one direction to allow cases topass, means for elevating the cases beyond said finger structure insaidone direction, each of the .cases after passing said fingerstructure in said one direction settling down on said finger structureand being supported thereby upon retraction of said elevating means,each of .said cases elevating a preceding case a given distance, saidwalls being rotated individually a predetermined distance againstgravity to expand the width of said one of said chutes upon movementofthe cases therethrough, means for moving the cases that passed throughsaid one of said chutes into the other of said chutes, and means commonto both .of said chutes for adjusting the width of said chutes. toaccommodate cases of different sizes.

2. A case moving mechanism comprising in combination a frame, said framedefining a pair of parallelly arranged chutes, one of said chutes beingarranged for receiving .cases at one end thereof and discharging casesat the other end into the other of said chutes, said one of said chutesbeing provided with displaceable side walls, a movable finger structurearranged .to protude into said one of said chutes for supporting thecases, said finger structure arranged to deflect sufficiently uponmovement of the cases against it in one direction to allow cases topass, means for elevating the cases beyond said finger structure in saidone direction, each of the casesafter passing said finger structure insaid one direction settling down on said finger structure and beingsupported thereby upon retrac movement of the cases therethrough, meansfor moving 5 the cases that passed through said one of said chutes intothe other of said chutes, and means common to both of said chutes forsimultaneously adjusting the width of Said chutes to accommodate casesof diiferent sizes.

3. A case moving mechanism comprising in combina- 1 tion a frame, saidframe defining a pair of parallelly arranged chutes, one of said chutesbeing provided with displaceable side walls, a movable finger structurearranged to protrude into said one of said chutes for supporting thecases, said finger structure comprising a serrated member arranged todeflect sufiiciently upon movement of the cases against it in onedirection to allow the cases to pass, means for elevating the casesbeyond said serrated member in said one direction, said means comprisinga serrated bearing plate for supporting and elevating the cases beyondsaid serrated member, the serrations of said bearing plate interleavingwith the serrations of said member so that said bearing plate may passthrough and past said member, each of the cases after passing saidfinger structure in said one direction settling down on said fingerstructure and being supported thereby upon retraction of said elevatingmeans, each of the cases elevating a preceding case a given distance,said side Walls being rotated individually a predetermined distanceagainst gravity to expand the Width of said chute upon movement of thecases therethrough, said side walls frictionally gripping the cases uponwithdrawal of said elevating means, and means common to both of saidchutes for simultaneously adjusting the width of said chutes toaccommodate cases of different sizes.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/58 Campbell214-62 2,904,941 9/59 Midnight 2146.2 2,937,482 5/60 Lazott et a1.214-6.2

FOREIGN PATENTS 822,378 10/59 Great Britain.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. ERNEST A. FALLER, JR., Examiner.

1. A CASE MOVING MECHANISM COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A FRAME, SAID FRAMEDEFINING A PAIR OF PARALLELLY ARRANGED CHUTES, ONE OF SAID CHUTES BEINGARRANGED FOR RECEIVING CASES AT ONE END THEREOF AND DISCHARGING CASES ATTHE OTHER END INTO THE OTHER OF SAID CHUTES, SAID ONE OF SAID CHUTESBEING PROVIDED WITH DISPLACEABLE SIDE WALLS, A MOVABLE FINGER STRUCTUREARRANGED TO PROTRUDE INTO SAID ONE OF SAID CHUTES FOR SUPPORTING THECASES, SAID FINGER STRUCTURE ARRANGED TO DEFLECT SUFFICIENTLY UPONMOVEMENT OF THE CASES AGAINST IT IN ONE DIRECTION TO ALLOW CASES TOPASS, MEANS FOR ELEVATING THE CASES BEYOND SAID FINGER STRUCTURE IN SAIDONE DIRECTION, EACH OF SAID CASES AFTER PASSING SAID FINGER STRUCTURE INSAID ONE DIRECTION SETTLING DOWN ON SAID FINGER STRUCTURE AND BEINGSUPPORTED THEREBY UPON RETRACTION OF SAID ELEVATING MEANS, EACH OF SAIDCASES ELEVATING A PRECEDING CASE A GIVEN DISTANCE, SAID WALLS BEINGROTATED INDIVIDUALLY A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE AGAINST GRAVITY TO EXPANDTHE WIDTH OF SAID ONE OF SAID CHUTES UPON MOVEMENG OF THE CASESTHERETHROUGH, MEANS FOR MOVING THE CASES THAT PASSED THROUGH SAID ONE OFSAID CHUTES INTO THE OTHER OF SAID CHUTES, AND MEANS COMMON TO BOTH OFSAID CHUTES FOR ADJUSTING THE WIDTH OF SAID CHUTES TO ACCOMMODATE CASESOF DIFFERENT SIZES.